How Do Consignment Shops Decide Which Pieces to Stock?

Have you ever wondered how a consignment shop chooses which pieces to buy and sell? Whether you’re looking to sell your used clothes on consignment or you’re interested in stocking your wardrobe with gorgeous preloved pieces from Current Boutique, it’s a good idea to be familiar with what kinds of clothing pieces you’ll typically find in a top-notch consignment store.

So, how do consignment shops decide which clothes and accessories to stock, and what are some reasons your item(s) might get denied when selling to a consignment store?

1. Quality

Consignment stores typically buy only high-quality merchandise. Consignment stores want their shoppers to feel like they are buying new clothes – but with all the sustainability and excitement of buying secondhand treasures. Pieces that are ripped, torn, stained, damaged, or worn out won’t make it to the shelves of a consignment store. And it’s not all about damage either; overall quality matters too. A consignment store buyer will take a look at the material and craftsmanship of each garment to ensure it’s up to the store’s standards.

Note: If you have flawed clothes that a consigner won’t buy, donate them to a charity or a thrift shop instead. While you won’t get the kind of money you might get selling on consignment, it’s a sustainable option to divert your used clothes away from landfills. A lot of shoppers purchase partially damaged or stained clothing for cheap at thrift stores and upcycle them to create something new!

2. Brand

Most consignors prefer to purchase from top-notch brands because this ensures quality and name recognition. Fast fashion clothing brands like Fashion Nova and Shein will seldom end up on consignment racks because the quality just isn’t there; fast fashion can’t withstand multiple wears, washes, and changes of hand. Higher-quality designer pieces are a better investment because they are proven to withstand the test of time.

Well-known brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, and Kate Spade will also generally sell better on consignment, so you’re more likely to get top dollar when selling these sorts of garments. Check out these 15 best brands to resell on consignment.

3. Trends vs timeless pieces

Consignment stores prefer to purchase timeless, classic pieces versus ultra-trendy ones. Trendy garments have a short shelf life and by the time a trendy piece makes its way to a consignment store, the trend has usually already passed, making it a lot less desirable to shoppers. Classic garments will always sell, no matter the year, the season, or the changing trends.

That doesn’t mean some consignment stores won’t accept trendy pieces. However, they’re more likely to accept trendy pieces that have a timeless element to them. For example, maybe you are selling a feathery black dress that’s very chic in 2022 – but since it is still considered a classic “little black dress,” it might be easy to resell for years to come.

Furthermore, it’s important to note there’s a difference between “out of style” and “vintage.” Vintage items will also usually sell well. A vintage Chanel purse is going to sell for big bucks at a consignment store, whereas a Shein neon purple baguette likely won’t sell after its prime.

4. Authentication

Top-end consignment stores like Current Boutique only sell designer clothes that are fully authenticated. We pride ourselves on selecting curated pieces from brand-name designers, so our customers can feel confident when purchasing with us. If we can’t authenticate a piece, we likely won’t put it on our shelves.

5. Aesthetic and marketing

Different brands attract different clientele; the girls who shop at Hot Topic may not be the same as those who shop at Lilly Pulitzer. The same is true for consignment stores. Each consignment store is targeting a specific aesthetic and audience. The store buyers likely knows their market really well, and they know what kinds of clothes or pieces their shoppers will purchase.

So, if you have a good-quality piece that you want to sell on consignment, don’t get discouraged if one store says no. Don’t take it as a personal dig at you or your style. It’s likely because the store just doesn’t feel confident that they can sell it for top dollar to their market. If you take that same piece to another consignment shop, they might say yes because it’s exactly the kind of garment their market would buy.

6. Niche

Some consignors only sell certain kinds of pieces. For example, at Current Boutique, we sell clothes, shoes, accessories, and purses, but we do not sell any home goods or electronics. Some consignment stores niche down further, like they only sell jewelry or purses. At Current Boutique, our niche is high-end designers for clothing and accessories with a focus on sustainability (we particularly love stocking clothes made from natural fabrics), while some consignors focus less on the brand and more on the category of items.

7. Inventory and seasonality 

If a consignment store is filled to the brim with inventory, they might only have the capacity to stock a few of your most re-sellable pieces. If the store is low on inventory, they might be more eager to stock all of your pieces. This doesn’t just apply to overall inventory levels, either. For example, maybe the store has a lot of little black dresses in size six, but they’re looking for more LBDs in size 10. If you bring in a size six dress, they may not stock it; but someone else might bring in a nearly identical dress in a different size, and the consignor will resell it. Current inventory levels matter at a consignment store, so you want to try to resell classic and unique pieces that a consignor likely doesn’t have an abundance of.    

Consignment stores are more likely to stock seasonal items than ones out of season. For example, they’re a lot less likely to sell a sundress in September than you are in May or June. Try to bring your items in at the beginning of each season, which is most likely when customers will want to buy your preloved pieces. 

How to sell your clothes with Current Boutique

At Current Boutique, we value quality, craftsmanship, and sustainability. That’s why we stock high-quality preloved items that our customers love, that sell well, and that don’t harm the planet. 

Sell your clothes with Current Boutique here. We make it easy for you to drop off or mail in your preloved clothes, so you can start cleaning out your closet and making cash ASAP. And any items that are not chosen for sale will be donated, so you don’t have to worry about your clothes ending up in landfills.